Chamber and committees

The official measure of unemployment based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition is not reliable for sub-groups of the population (such as age) at local authority level. However, an alternative measure of unemployment is the claimant count. This gives the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits and as it is based on administrative records it is available for small areas. Claimant count is always lower than ILO unemployment as some unemployed people choose not to claim benefits or are not entitled to do so, particularly those under 18 years.

The latest claimant count data is for May 2011.

Table 1 gives the claimant count levels for those aged below 17 and those aged 17 by local authority area.

Table 1: Claimant Count Levels by Age for Scottish Local Authorities, May 2011

Source: Claimant Count, Office for National Statistics.

Note: Disaggregation of claimant count levels below age 17 is not possible.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-651 on 22 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-651 on 22 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-651 on 22 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

(a) The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey (SSAS) Core Module (funded by the Office of the Chief Researcher) contains a question on which institution, the Scottish Government, the UK Government, local councils or the European Union, they think has most influence over the way Scotland is run. This is followed by a question on which institution ought to have most influence.

(b) These two questions have been included in the core module every year from 1999 to 2010 (excepting 2002 and 2008). The core module contains around 40 questions each year on attitudes to government and public services.

(c) Fieldwork for the 2009 SSAS took place between April and September 2009. Around 1,500 face-to-face interviews are carried out annually (1,482 in 2009) with a representative sample of the Scottish population.

(d) There has been a consistent increase in the proportion who say the Scottish Parliament/Government has most influence over how Scotland is run, from 13% in 2000 to 33% in 2009, although a higher percentage 39% (in 2009) say this is the UK Government at Westminster. Although more people think the UK Government has most influence over the way Scotland is run, the majority, 72% in 2009, think that the Scottish Government ought to have most influence over the way Scotland is run. Although there was a slight dip in levels of support for the Scottish Government having most influence to around two-thirds between 2003 and 2006, since 2007 over 7 in 10 have said this, in line with the high levels recorded between 1999 and 2001. 2010 results are due to be published shortly.

Scottish ministers would welcome an opportunity to meet their UK counterparts on the very important issues of welfare reform. Since the formation of the current government, no such meetings have taken place. Lord Freud, the UK Minister for Welfare Reform, spoke by telephone with me on the morning of 16 June 2011 and it is expected that this call will be followed by further discussions.

(a) Social Research Undertaken by George Street Research since January 2010

(b) Social Research Undertaken by GfK Custom Research since January 2010

(c) Social Research Undertaken by Ipsos MORI since January 2010

(d) Social Research undertaken by TNS BMRB since January 2010

The following table outlines the cost of the work referred to the answer to question S4W-455 on 10 June 2011.

The Scottish Government has not met with, or made representations to, this committee on the issue of payment of a living wage using public procurement processes. At present, officials are in discussions with other UK public bodies about the living wage in the context of public procurement processes.

The Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland sets out the key measures the Scottish Government intend to progress, and sets a framework for action by a range of partners across Scotland. Annual progress reports will be produced and laid in the Parliament.